The interior of the Cascades Restaurant and Bar is located in the Embassy Suites in Lynnwood.

An article titled “Summer Safe-Cation” caught my eye and made me wonder how we should proceed as warmer temperatures and blue skies encourage us to break out of the house to change the landscape and routine. Travel opens up opportunities for adventure, but we need to be safe as we think about trips beyond our four walls.

A smart friend has simply pitched his tent in a wooded area near the edge of his property for the past few years. The kids enjoyed sleeping bags and tents, and even toasted marshmallows over a small hibachi. Her mother enjoyed the convenience of strolling through her back yard to her kitchen and refrigerator, which kept items for grilling and ice to cool drinks, without the clutter of igloo coolers – an all round win.

When hotels open and our level of comfort when we are away increases, there is a potential benefit to moving to a new location to improve our attitudes.

Many hotels offer breakfast and happy hour options. My research shows many options for upgrades beyond a waffle iron in the breakfast bar area or for snacks offered to offset alcohol consumption. Many smaller hotels, especially in smaller communities, offer some of the best options for great dining.

A pre-COVID trip to the Bellingham area brought a pleasant surprise North water, a fabulous restaurant in the Holiday Inn at the airport. The taste jewel offered a rich breakfast, lunch and dinner, consisting of products from the region and proteins. In connection with the draft of several fine establishments in the area and wine bottles of the same one could really stay on site and enjoy.

Seafood stew in Northwater.

Looking forward to a return trip when they reopen to meditate over a steaming bowl of seafood stew and sip of brew and cocktails from local Bellingham breweries and distilleries.

In the meantime, there are options closer to home, and the bonus of a “vacation home” means you don’t have to whine, “Are we there yet?”.

Local company-run Hampton Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, and Embassy Suites offer chef kitchens for sumptuous dining, possibly poolside or delivered to your room.

In some places really a step above the waffle maker, breakfast offerings are available whether or not you enjoy the property. The same applies to the evening rate:

Here are some examples:

Cascades Restaurant and Bar was recently presented at the Lynnwood Restaurant Showcase. Conveniently located at the Embassy Suites in Lynnwood with plenty of parking … well worth the research. Hers really persuaded her husband when we noticed the menu had meatless options like the Beyond Burgers.

Appetizers and salads were so satisfying and portions that made sharing and more:

PNW Cobb Salad Contains fresh, crispy chopped romaine, juicy prawns, black olives, tomatoes, bacon, sliced ​​avocado, hard-boiled egg and mesquite-grilled salmon.

Chicken Quesadilla offered delicately crispy tortilla triangles with generous chicken breast wedges, and condiments were presented in a taco-shaped bowl for an elegant touch.

Are you new to the “plant-based” options or a bit shy about trying to cook or grill at home? Cascades Restaurant and Bar offers your pallet a test drive using one of the handheld options in the menu – the Beyond burger. Vegetable protein is new to many. This patty was juicy, pink, and tasted great. With lettuce, tomato and avocado on a brioche bun and a selection of sweet potato fries, the selection also got healthier.

Shrimp Mac N Cheese: Comfort Plus in a bowl with toothy premium noodle pieces coated with three types of cheese and a bonus – grilled prawns and andouille sausage. Plus a crispy slice of garlic bread to mop up any remaining cheese in the bowl.

Cascades Chef Salesh Karan

The sheet “Specials” is noteworthy – the chef creates a few dishes that offer a different dish every evening each month, and the prices are also special. In April we enjoyed a dish created by the resident chef Salesh Karan Amaretto prawns. Jumbo prawns wrapped in bacon and grilled until crispy were plated on top of creamy mashed potatoes and broccoli made with a creamy, liqueur-flavored application where all of the dish’s ingredients sang in harmony on the fork.

No driving required

Create adventure with a day trip where you don’t have to pile yourself into the family car at all. The Washington Ferry at Edmonds Dock takes you and your family to Kingston and back. Go on, avoiding the lines of the cars and enjoying the fresh air on the decks of Puyallup or Spokane.

Some of our local entrepreneurs have opened a second place on the “other side” of the water … in Kingston. It’s just a short stroll to enjoy ultra-fresh seafood, Mediterranean dishes, or Kingston’s local beers. Be careful to save space for the many temptations on offer.

Ono Poke Too

Ono Poke TooThe hotel is located at 25960 Central Ave. NE in Kingston and is another way to have a bite to eat. Fabulous fish and amazing views, what’s not to like?

Cafe Neo Kingston offers the same great Greek / Mediterranean cuisine that we enjoy at Edmonds. The hotel is located in Kingston next to the Firehouse Theater. 11171 NE State Hwy 104 Suite 101, Kingston.

Many other “possibilities” line the road that leads to the ferry terminal:

The Kingston Ale House (formerly Main Street Ale) on 11225 NE State Highway 104 in Kingston.

I love crepe

I love crepe: Located right on the corner of the cargo area and convenient for travelers to have a bite to eat while waiting to board the boat.

Homemade quiche at Over The Moon Coffee

Coffee over the moon offers a lot more than caffeine. Calories from their delicious home cooked kitchen can be burned off with the vigorous walk to their facility at 11229 on Highway 104.

Cheers to Mossback

Mossback is open again after a winter break and will soon be on my list. Take a look at the specialty drinks they just released and an example of their exquisite cuisine – halibut refreshed for spring! The farm-to-table home is a short walk from 26185 Ohio Ave. E. Located in Kingston.

After a full year of waiting, adventure awaits you – get out there and explore, try new restaurants, break new ground … celebrate the return of what many of us took for granted.

– From Kathy Passage

A gourmet food specialist for over 30 years, Kathy Passage has an in-depth knowledge of food and the unique properties of ingredients used in the exquisite products she has brought to market. Kathy brings this unique “other side of the plate” perspective to her writing about the food and restaurant scene in Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace.